Rating: 3.6/5 (5 votes)

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: 09.00–16.00

 

Huai Luek Royal Project Development Center is one of those Chiang Mai stopovers that genuinely feels “worth the detour.” You’re not just pulling in for a quick photo; you’re seeing real highland development work up close—from the landscape and local way of life to agricultural produce shaped by research, extension, and knowledge transfer under Thailand’s Royal Project / Royal Initiative approach in Chiang Dao.

 

Huai Luek Royal Project is located in Ping Khong Subdistrict, Chiang Dao District, Chiang Mai Province. If you’re coming from Chiang Mai city, take Highway 107 (Chiang Mai–Fang route).

 

When you reach kilometer marker 95, turn right and continue for about 500 meters to reach the Huai Luek Royal Project Development Center office. Total travel time is roughly 1.5 hours.

 

The area’s geography is a mix of plains and rolling hills, surrounded by steep high mountains. The elevation ranges from 500–900 meters above sea level, with most of the area sitting around 600 meters.

 

The higher mountain zones fall within the Huai Luek sub-watershed, which is part of the Ping River basin. The average annual temperature is approximately 20.11–28.21°C. Most local residents are Hmong, followed by Lahu (Muser). The total population is 3,145 people.

 

The center’s core mission is to allocate farmland and support livelihoods for Hmong communities and local residents in the area, through agricultural promotion, research, and propagation for farmers. Key products include vegetables such as salad greens and cantaloupe; flowers such as chrysanthemums and peacock flowers; and fruits such as passion fruit, pomegranate, and guava for juice.

 

All of this is aimed at helping farmers strengthen skills and apply appropriate technology in agriculture, increasing income, and improving overall quality of life and living conditions.

 

At present, the Huai Luek Royal Project Development Center is responsible for 3 villages: Ban Huai Luek, Ban Mai Samakkhi, and Ban Nong Tao. In 2010, 361 households of farmers received development and occupational support.

 

Farmers are supported across 6 agricultural categories: vegetables, medicinal plants, flowers, fruits, and field crops. These can generate income through produce delivered via the Royal Project Foundation’s distribution system.

 

Huai Luek is also an interesting travel destination and welcomes visitors. The best travel season is typically November through March, when there is more agricultural produce to see and buy at reasonable prices. For more details, you can contact 0 5345 1116 (Huai Luek Center extension).

 

If you’re coming for a “real break,” Huai Luek is the kind of place that lets you park, breathe, and reset before continuing your drive. The surrounding scenery—open flats, gentle slopes, and mountain walls—feels noticeably different from a typical roadside stop, especially from November to March when the weather is comfortable and there’s more to explore and shop for.

 

Getting There From Chiang Mai city, take Highway 107 (Chiang Mai–Fang) toward Chiang Dao. At kilometer marker 95, turn right into the junction road and continue about 500 meters to reach the Huai Luek Royal Project Development Center office.

 

 

A: November to March is typically the best period, thanks to comfortable weather and a wider selection of agricultural produce to see and buy.

 

A: Take Highway 107 (Chiang Mai–Fang). At kilometer marker 95, turn right and drive about 500 meters to reach the Huai Luek Royal Project Development Center office.

 

A: You can enjoy the highland atmosphere, learn about the Royal Project development approach through real agricultural work and outputs, and use the place as a refreshing stop on the Chiang Mai–Chiang Dao–Fang route.

 

A: Chiang Dao has many options—from resorts to camp-style stays with mountain views. The summary table includes examples with approximate distances and phone numbers.

 

A: Several numbers appear across different sources. Try the numbers listed in the table, and if one doesn’t go through, switch to another listed contact.